Alkylation process



Felm 18, 1958" HQMKNIGHT ETAL 2,824,160

ALKYLATION PROCESS Filed June l5, 1956 United States Patent ALKYLATION PROCESS Harmon M. Knight, La Marque, and Joe T. Kelly, Dickinson, Tex., assignors to The American Oil Company, Texas City, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application June 13, 1956, Serial No. 591,224

13 Claims. (Cl. S260-683.44)

This invention relates to the reaction of isoparafiins or aromatic hydrocarbons and olefins. More particularly it relates to the alkylation of isobutane with ethylene.

In the petroleum industry today, the octane race has placed a strain on facilities and materials needed to make gasoline meeting present day automotive engine requirements. One of the remaining sources of high octane components is the product of the alkylation of isobutane and ethylene. This alkylation is not easy to carry out, particularly on a large scale.

An object of the invention is the alkylation of isoparaffins, particularly isobutane, with olens, particularly ethylene. Another object is the alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons With olens. Other objects will become apparent in the course of the detailed description.

The alkylation of isoparafiins or aromatic hydrocarbons with olefins is carried out in the presence of a novel catalyst pair. Gne member of the catalyst pair is boron triuoride. The other member of the catalyst pair is a metal tungstate hydrate, that is, a metal tungstate salt containing water of hydration. Although the second cornponent of the catalyst pair is spoken of `as a metal tungstate hydrate, it is believed that the solid member is more properly a complex of the hereinafter defined metal tungstate hydrate and B123; the BF, is believed to complex with some or all of the hydrate water present in the metal tungstate hydrate salt. More than the amount of BFS needed to complex the water of hydration is necessary to obtain the desired catalytic effect.

Boron triuoride is one member of the catalyst pair. Commercial grade anhydrous BF3 is suitable for use as this member of the catalyst pair.

The other member of the catalyst pair, hereinafter spoken of as the solid member, is a metal tungstate hydrate, i. e., a metal tungstate salt containing water of hydration. The salt may be used as a fine powder, as pellets, or may be supported on a solid carrier such as alumina, charcoal, silica gel, silica carbide, etc. Not all metal tungstates which contain water of hydration are suitable, nor are all metal ions suitable. The particular metal ion components of the tungstate salt hydrates are aluminum, cobaltous and nickelous. In determining the effective members, it has been considered that the catalyst pairs which did not produce a yield, on a weight percent basis on ethylene charged, when isobutane and ethylene were contacted, of 100% or more, were unsuitable.

It is necessary that the above-defined metal salts contain hydrate water. The anhydrous salts do not have any promotional effect on the activity of BF3. In those cases wherein a salt may exist in forms having various amounts of water of hydration present, it is not necessary that any particular hydrate be used. Apparently it is necessary only that some water of hydration be present.

The BFS and the defined salt react to form a solid material containing complexed BF3. When the salt hydrate and BF3 are contacted in a closed vessel, the BF,

poses, that is, loss of all its water of hydration.

2,824,160 Patented Feb. 18, 19,58'

ICC

partial pressure drops very rapidly at first and then gradually approaches a constant value. It appears that a. very rapid reaction between the BF3 and some of the water of hydration takes place. This initially rapid reaction is then followed by a relatively slow reaction between the remaining molecules of hydrate water and additional BF3. It appears that when the salt hydrate is exposed to EP3, even in the presence of hydrocarbon reactants, eventually all of the'water of hydration will become associated with EP3 on about a l mole of BF, per mole of hydrate water basis.

A complex of the defined salt hydrate and BF3 is not an effective catalyst for the alkylation in the absence of free-EP3. Free-EP3 is to be understood as BF3 existing in the reaction zone which is not complexed with the defined metal salt-hydrate. As soon as the salt hydrate has complexed with some BF3, the beneficial catalytic effect exists. Thus free-EP3 may exist in the reaction zone, as evidenced by the formation of alkylate, even though all of the hydrate Water has not been complexed. In a batch system, wherein less BFS is present than is theoretically required to complex all the water of hydration present in the salt hydrate, eventually no alkylation will occur as charge is added, since all of the BF3 will become complexed.

In general, the process is carried out utilizing an amount of BF3 which is in excess of that requiredy to complex with all the hydrate water present in the contacting zone, namely, in excess of about l1 mole of BF3 per mole of hydrate Water present. More than the minimum amount of free-BF., is beneficial, in fact, the yield of alkylate increases rapidly with increase in free-BF3 present, up to a maximum amount. The amount of free- BF3 used is dependent somewhat upon the reactants themselves. However, when reacting isoparains and olefins, the free-B133 usage is desirably, set out on a BF3 to olefin weight ratio, of at least about 0.2. In other words, at least about 0.2 lb. of free-BE, per lb. of olefin charged to the alkylation zone is desirable. About 1.5 parts by weight of free-EP3 per part of olefin chargedl appears to be about the desirable maximum usage of EP3. It is preferred to use between about 0.35 and 1 part by Weight of free-BFS, per part by weight of olefin when utilizing the lower molecular weight olefins, such as ethylene and propylene.

The process may be carried out at any temperature below the temperature at which the salt hydrate decom- The temperature of operation may be as low as -20 C. or even lower. Temperatures as high as 150 C. and `even higher may be used with some of the salt hydrates which4 have relatively high decomposition temperatures. More usually the temperature of operation will "be between about 0 C. and 100 C. Lower temperatures `appear to favor the formation of the hydrocarbons having 6 to 7 carbon atoms. It is preferred to operate at a tempera ture between about 25 C. and 40 C.

Suiiicient pressure is maintained on the system to keep a substantial portion of the hydrocarbons charged in the liquid state. The process maybe carried out at relatively low pressures, for example, p. s. i., or it may be carried out at elevated pressures, for example, 2000 p. s. i., or more. In general, pressures will be betwen about 200 and 1000 p. s. i. and preferably between about 300 and 600 p. s. i.

The contacting of the isoparatiin or aromatic hydrocarbon and the olen in the presence of the defined catalyst pair is continued until an appreciable amount of alkylate has been formed. In batch reactions, it is possible t'o convert essentially 100% of the olefin by a sufficiently' long period of contacting. When operating in a comin` nous. flow systems.. it may be desirable te have a time f contacting such that substantial amounts of olefin are not converted and obtain the complete conversion of the olefin by a recycle operation. The time of reaction will be determined by thev type of hydrocarbons charged, the ratio of isoparaflin or aromatic to olefin, the degree of mixing in the contacting zone and the catalyst usage. A few tests will enable one to determine the optimum time of contacting for the particular system of operating conditions being tried.

The reactants in the hydrocarbon charge to the al kylation process are isoparain, or aromatic and olefin. The olefin contains from 2 to about l2 carbon atoms. Examples of suitable olefns are ethylene, propylene, butene-2, hexene and octene; in addition to these, thc olefin polymers obtained from propylene and/ or butylene are also suitable for use in the process, such as codimer, propylene trimer, propylene tetrarner and butylene trimer. lt is preferred to operate with ethylene or propylcne.

The aromatic hydrocarbons must be alkylatable by the particular olefin used. It is self-evident that an aro matic hydrocarbon which contains alltyl substituents positioned so that steric hinderance would prevent or greatly reduce the possibility of alkylaticn with the particular' olefin should not be subjected to the process. Examples of particularly suitable aromatic hydrocarbons are oen-- zene, toluene, xylene, trimetrylbenzenes, and the other alkyl analogues, such as propyl and butyl; the naphthalene aromatic hydrocarbons, such as the mono and diu substi tuted methylnaphthalenes.

The isoparafn reactant is defined as a parafhnic hydrocarbon which has a tertiary hydrogen atom, i. e., paraflns which have a hydrogen atom attached to a tertiary carbon atom. Examples of these are isobutane, isopentane (Z-methylbutane), I-methylpentane, 2 methylhexane, 3-methylhexane, 2,3dimethyllnrtane (di-isopropyl) and ZA-dimethylhexane. ri`hus the isoparans usable as one reactant in the process contain from 4 to 8 carbon atoms.

ln the isoparafiin-olelin system, the alkylation reaction is more favored as the mole ratio of isoparafn to olefin increases. 'In general, the isoparafiin to olefin mole ratio in the hydrocarbon charge should be at least l. More than this amount is good and it is desirable to have an isoparaflin to olefin ratio between about 2 and 25 and in some cases more, for example, as much as 50. it is preferred to operate with an isoparafn to olefin mole ratio of between about 5 and l5.

The presence of non-reactive hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon charge is not detrimental unless the reactants become excessively diluted. For example, the isoparafn may also contain isomers of the normal conguration.

The olcfms may contain parafhus of the saine carbon' number. Mixtures of two or more isoparaflins or two or more aromatic hydrocarbons, or two or more olens may be charged. ln general, when a particular product distribution is desired, it is preferable to operate with a single isoparafhu and a single olefin, for example, tech nical grade isobutane and ethylene, both of about 95% purity.

The reactants may be mixed together before they are charged into the reactor. Or, they may be charged into the reactor separately. Or, a portion of the olefin may be blended with the isoparafn or aromatic before introduction into the reactor and the remainder of the olefin injected into the reactor. The charge may be introduced all at one point into the reactor or it may be introduced at two or more points. The alkylation reaction is somewhat exothermic and temperature control is facilitated by introducing the olefin into the reactor at more than one point.

The BF3 member of the catalyst pair may be premixed With-the `isoparaffin and olefin before introducingy these into th'ereactor but this should not be done when an extremely reactive system such as isobutanes and butylene or aromatic hydrocarbonsand volefins are being used; or

when an olefin that is very rapidly polymerizable, such as isobut'ylena'is being used. The BF3 may be blended with the isoparafin reactant and introduced into the reactor With this member when the isoparafn and the olefins are being introduced separately. The EP3 may also be introduced directly into the reaction zone independently from the hydrocarbons charged. The EP3 may be introduced into the reactor at a single point or at several points to help control temperature and reaction rate.

The reactor may be a vessel providing for a batch-type reaction, i. e., one wherein the desired amount of isoparaffin or aromatic and olefin are charged to a closed vessel containing the catalyst pair and the Vessel then maintained at the desired temperature for the desired time. At the end of this time, the hydrocarbon product mixture and unreacted materials are withdrawn from the vessel and processed to separate the alkylate product from the unreacted materials and lower and higher molecular weight materials. The reactor may be a fixed bed type wherein the reactants and free-BF?, are owed through the bed of the hydrate salt member of the catalyst pair, the space velocity being controlled so that the desired amount of reaction is obtained during the passage of the reactants through the bed of hydrate salt. Under some conditions, a moving bed of hydrate salt may be utilized. in still another set of circumstances, a fluidized bed of hydrate salt may be utilized with the incoming stream of reactants providing the energy for the uidization of the `solid hydrate salt. Other methods of operation common in the catalytic refining aspects of the petroleum industry utilizing solid catalyst may be readily devised.

lt has been pointed out that the solid member of the catalyst pair is really a complex of the metal salt hydrate and EP3; the B123 apparently reacting with the Water of hydration. The complex may be preformed, by exposing the salt hydrate to EP3 for a time sufficient to introduce some EP3 into the solid component or even enough to complex all of the water of hydration; this being done before the reactants are introduced into the reaction one or even before the solid member of the catalyst pair is positioned in the reaction zone. The complex may be .formed in situ during a batch-type reaction. in the batch-type operation, it is convenient to introduce all the BFS into the reaction vessel at once. This amount of SP3 is su'icient not only to complex with the water of hydration but also provide the desired amount of free- BFS. in a dow system, the solid member may be prepared in situ by charging fresh hydrate salt to the reaction zone and forming the complex during the initial passage or" reactants and BF3 over the salt hydrate. Some alkalation reaction occurs even though the salt hydrate has not taken up sufficient EP3 to complex all the water of hydration. As the flow of reactants and BF3 continues over the solid member, eventually the salt hydrate will become saturated with respect to BFS. At this time, the amount of B153 introduced into the reaction Zone should be cut back to that amount of free-B123 desired, under this particular set of operating conditions.

The illustrative embodiment set out in the annexed figure forms a part of this specication. It is pointed out that this embodiment is schematic in nature, that many tems of process equipment have been omitted, since these may be readily added by those skilled in this art and that this embodiment is only one of many which may be devised, and that the invention is not to be limited to this particular embodiment.

ln. this embodiment, it is desired to produce a high yield of di-isopropyl for use as a blending material for gasoline. Ethylene from source 1l is passed by way of line 12 into mixer i3. Liquid isobutane from source 14 is passed by way of lines id and .t7 into mixer 13. Y Both the `ethylene and the isobutane are about purity, the remainder beingvn-butane and ethane, with traceamounts of other components found in materials derivedY from petroleum refining sources. Mixer 13, in this instance,

is a simple orifice-type mixer suitable for intermingling a liquid and a gas, or two liquids. Recycle isobutane from line 18 is passed by way of line 17 into mixer 13. In this embodiment, the molar ratio of isobutane to ethylene is 6.

From mixer 13, the blend of isobutane and ethylene is passed by way of line 19, through heat exchanger 21, where the temperature of the blend is adjusted to 30 C. The temperature of the blend leaving exchanger 21 is somewhat lower than the reaction temperature, since there is a heat rise in the reactor due to exothermic reaction. From exchanger 21, the stream of isobutane and ethylene is passed by way of lines 22 and 23 into the top of the reactor 24.

Boron triuorde is passed from source 26 by way of valved line 27 and line 28 into line 23, where it meets the stream of isobutane and ethylene, It desirable, a mixer may be introduced into line 23 to insure complete intermingling of the BFa and the hydrocarbon charged.'

Recycle BF3 is introduced from line 29 by way of lines 28 and 23. ln this embodiment, the salt hydrate is completely complexed with respect to BFS and only the necessary free-BF3 is introduced by way of line 28. The weight ratio of free-BFS from line 28 to ethylene present inline 23 is 1.1.

Reactor 24 is shown as a shell and tube type vessel. Hydrate salt is contained in the tubes 31. The alumina balls 32 and 33 are positioned above and below the headers in the reactor to maintain the hydrate salt within the tubes. In order to maintain the temperature in the reactor i' at substantially 35 C., water is introduced into the shell In this embodiment, the reactor was charged with nickelous tungstate containing two moles of water of hydration per mole of tungstate, i. e., NiWO42H2O. The hydrate salt was preformed into pellets about one-eighth inch in diameter and about one-eighth inch in height. Some silica was present to act as a lubricant in the extrustion of the pellets. The salt hydrate was contacted with BF3 in an amount such that all of the water of hyration was complexed with B183. This operation was carried out before reactants were introduced into the reactor. The reactor pressure was maintained at 600 p. s. i. This permits maintaining the isobutane and substantially all of the ethylene in the liquid state.

The product hydrocarbon mixture is passed out of reactor 24 by way of line 41.. This stream containsthe alkylate product, unreacted isobutane, a small amount of unreacted ethylene and pentanes as well as BFS. The stream from line 41 is passed into gas separator 42 where the BF3, isobutane, some pentanes and some alkylate product aretaken overhead by way of line 43. The material taken overhead from the separator 42 is passed into fractionator 44.

`Fractionator 44 is adapted to separate the EP3 as a gas, the isobutane as a liquid and the higher boiling materials as a bottoms product. Fractionator 44 is provided with an internal reboiler 46 and an internal condensor 47. BFS and unreacted ethylene are taken overhead from fractionator 44 by way of line 48 and may be passed out of the system by way of valved line 49. The material from line 49may be periodically passed to a BF3 puriiication operation to remove non-condensable inert gases which build up in the system. Ordinarily the stream from line 48 is recycled by way of valved lines 29 and lines 28 and 23 to reactor 24.

Isobutane is withdrawn as a liquid stream by way of line 51 and `is recycled lby way of lines 18 and 17 to mixer 13 for reuse in the process. Bottoms product from fractionator 44 is withdrawn by Way of line 52 and may be passed to storage or further processing by way of valved side by way of line 36 and is withdrawn by way of line by way of line 56 into fractionator 57. Therbottoms product` from fractionator 44 may be passed by way of valved line 58 and line 56 into fractionator 57 for com plete removal of the alkylate material. ln this embodiment, the bottoms are passed to fractionator 57.

Fractionator 57 is provided with an internal reboiler 58 and is adapted to produce the desired alkylate products from the hydrocarbon product mixture entering from line 56. A vapor stream is taken overhead by way of line 61, is condensed in cooler 62 and is passed to storage by Way of line 63. The material from line 63 consists substantially of isopentane and some unsaturated C5 material. This material may be used as a high octane blending stock for the production of motor gasoline of the desired volatility characteristics.

The alkylate product herein is considered to be that boiling above the pentane range and boiling below the maximum temperature usable in motor gasoline. In general, a 415 F. endpoint alkylate is blendable into motor gasoline without adverse eect in a specification calling for a 400 F. gasoline endpoint. Thus the alkylate product is considered to be the material boiling between about the lower limit of the hexane range and 415 F. in the ASTM distillation procedure.

A considerable difference exists between the octane number of the C6 fraction of the alkylate product and the higher boiling material. The C6 fraction, which boils from about 110 to 170 F., has an F-l octane number of 101. The C7+ material has an octane number which ranges between about 75 and 85, depending somewhat on the fractionation.

Light alkylate, which includes all the C3 material and some of the C7 material, is withdrawn from fractiona'tor 57 by way of line 66. Heavy alkylate, which includes most of the C, and material boiling up to 415 F. is withdrawn from fractionator 57 by way of line 67. A small amount of higher boiling bottoms is Withdrawn by way of line 68.

In general, the C6 fraction of the alkylate product will contain from about 86 to about 90 mole percent of di isopropyl (2,3-.dimethylbutane). Z-methylpentane and 3methylpentane represent substantially the remainder of the C6 product. Generally, only trace amounts of nhexane are present.

The results obtainable by the process of the instant invention are set out in illustrative runs below.

In Tables l and Il, there are set out results in the testing of various metal tungstate hydrates by means of batch operation. In these runs, the tests were carried out under what are more or less standard conditions, namely, a 4- liter carbon steel bomb was dried overnight in a stream of hot air at 110 C. The tungstate to be tested (90 grams) was charged to the bomb as a powder and the bomb was evacuated. One kilogram of a dry blend of ethylene and isobutane was added and then BPB grams) was pressured in. The charged. bombs were placed in a rocker and allowed to rock for 2O hours. At the end of this time a liquid sample was drawn through a bomb containing activated alumina (to remove dissolved BFE and salt particles). This sample was submitted for Podbielniak distillation. A C6 cut from the Podbielniak distillation was analyzed by mass spectrometer. In some cases after sampling, the remaining major portion of the product was debutanized on an Oldershaw column and then fractionated on a packed column.

In Table I, data are set out showing the need for salt and B133 in the system. In run No. l, the operation was carried out as described above except that no salt was present in the bomb. The results show that only 34% of depentanized alkylate product was obtained by the use of BF3 alone as the catalyst. -Run No. 2,-car1ied out with aluminum tungstate hydrate, produced vthree times as much alkylate than did EP3 alone. Run No. 3, wherein '7 nickelous tungstate hydrate and BF3 were present producedfessentially four times as much product.

In Table No. II, there are set out the results of testing various metal tungstate hydrates. These data were ob- S sure being at least suficient to keep a substantial portion of said reactants in the liquid state, for a time sufcient to permit an appreciable amount ofv alkylation reaction to take place, in the presence of a catalyst comtainedv under the approximate standard conditions utilized 5 prising essentially (i) Ia metal tungstate salt containing in bomb work. These standard conditions are approxiwater of hydration, the metal ion component being mately: Isobutane-ethylene mole ratio, 2.5; EP3-ethylene selected from the class consisting of aluminum, cobaltous, weight ratio., 0.7; hours contacting time, temperature and nickelous, and (ii) boronv triuoride, said BF3 being range, 20-35 C. and an initial pressure of about 350 present inv an amount in excess of one mole per mole of p. s. i. g. These runs show that only a very few tungstate lo hydrate water present in said salt, removing a product hydrates are eiective in promoting EP3 for isoparainhydrocarbon mixture from said contacting zone and an oletin alkylation. These effective salt hydrates are alkylate hydrocarbon product is separated from said A12(WO4)3.5H2O, COWO4.2H2O and NiWO4.2H2O. Almixture. though HgWO4-XH2O- was not effective for alkylation, 3. The process of claim 2 wherein said isoparan is this salt is excellent for polymerization of ethylene. le isobutane.

TABLE I RunfNo 1k 2 3 'Tungstate None A12(WO4)3.5H2O NiWO4.2H2O

Conditions:

Isobutane/Ethylene (Molar) 3.0 4. 8 2.6 Hydrocarbon/Salt (Weight)- 11.2 10.8 BFS/Ethylene (Weight) 0. 7 1.0 0.6 inne, Hours 20 20 20 Temperature, C 25-35 30-35 20-30 Pressure (Range), p. s. g 270-195 295-180 Results:

Alkylate (Depentauized) l (Wt. percent)- Pentanes 18 0 Hexanes 21 99 77 01+ is 2s es Total 34 127 143 Ethylene Converted, percent 76 83 l Podbelniak and mass spectrometer analyses, based on ethylene charged.

TABLE II Various tungstate hydrates Run No 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Metal In Present. Aluml- Nickel" Bismuth3+ Cerium3+ Cobalt2+ Cad- Chro- Mercury.-v

num3+ mium2+ mum3+ Moles of Water of Hydration 5 i 2 1 2 1 2 z Ethylene Converted, percent 76 83 67 100 Alkylate (Wt. Percent): l

Isopentanes 18 O 0 0 0 0 Hexancs 99 77 7 27 47 21 07+ 28 66 16 22 66 i3 Total (C5 Free) 127 143 23 49 113 34 22 (2) 1 Based on ethylene charged.

2 Product: heavy polymer deposited on salt hydrate.

Thus having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. An alkylation process comprising contacting (a) an alkylatable feed hydrocarbon from the class consisting of (1) isoparaiin having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms and (2) aromatic hydrocarbon and (b) an olen having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, in the presence of a catalyst comprising essentially (i) a metal tungstate salt containing water of hydration, the metal ion of said salt being from the class consisting of aluminum, cobaltous, and nickelous, and (ii) EP3, said EP3 being present in an amount in excess of about 1 mole per mole of water of hydration in said salt, at a temperature between about -30 C. and a temperature substantially below the temperature at which said hydrate salt decomposes, and at a pressure suicient to maintain a substantial portion of said reactants in the liquid state, `and separating a hydrocarbon product mixture containing alkylate product of said feed hydrocarbon and said olen.

2. VAny alkylation process wherein 'an isoparafin having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms and an olein having from 2 to 1.2 carbon atoms are contacted, in a molar ratio of isoparan to olen between about 2 and 50, at a tem perature between about 20 C. and 150 C. and a pressureV between about 100 and 2000 p. s. i., said pres- 4. The process of claim 2 wherein said isoparain is. di-isopropyl.

5. The process of claim 2 wherein said. olefin isA ethylene.

6. The process of claim 2 wherein said oleiin is propylene tetramer.

7. The process of claim 2 wherein said salt is aluminum tungstate.

8. The process of claim 2 wherein said salt is nickelous tungstate.

9. The process of claim 2 wherein said temperature is between about 25 'C. and 40 C.

l0. The process of claim 2 wherein theBF3y is present in an amount, in excess of 1 mole per mole of hydrate water, such that the free-EP3 to olen weightY ratiov is between about 0.2 and 1.5.

11. An alkylation process which comprises contacting isobutane `and ethylene in a molar ratio of isobutane to ethylene between about 2 and 25y at a temperature between about -20 C. and. 100 C. at a pressure between about 200 and 1000 p. s. i., said pressure. being. sufcient to keep a substantial. portion of said reactantsin the liquid state for a time sufficient to permit an. ap preciable amount of alkylation reaction to take place, in

`the presence of a catalyst pair comprising essentially (a) 12. The Aprocess of claim 11 wherein said tempera a salt-B133 complex consisting of a metal tungstate salt ture is between about 25 C. and 40 C.

containing water of hydration, the metal ion component 13. The process of claim 11 wherein said freebeing selected from the class consisting of aluminum, BPB/ethylene weight ratio is between about 0.35 and l. cobaltous, and nickelous, and about 1 mole of BF3 per mole of hydrate water present in said salt and (b) boron References Cited in the me 0f this Patent triuoride in an amount such that the weight ratio of UNITED STATES PATENTS free-BFa to ethylene charged is at least about 0.2, re-

moving product hydrocarbon mixture containing alkylate Eagle; et al "'yzlos product from said containing zone and separating alkylate 10 c hydrocarbon product from unreacted isobutane and ethylene. Y 

1. AN ALKYLATION PROCESS COMPRISING CONTACTING (A) AN ALKYLATABLE FEED HYDROCARBON FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF (1) ISOPARAFFIN HAVING FRON 4 TO 8 CARBON ATOMS AND (2) AROMATIC HYDROCARBON AND (B) AN OLEFIN HAVING FROM 2 TO 12 CARBON ATOMS, IN THE PRESENCE OF A CATALYST COMPRISING ESSENTIALLY (I) A MEYAL TUNGSTATE SALT CONTAINING WATER OF HYDRATION, THE METAL ION OF SAID SALT BEING FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF ALUUMINUM, COBALTOUS, AND NICKELOUS, AND (II) BF3, SAID BF3 BEING PRESENT IN AN AMOUNT IN EXCESS OF ABOUT 1 MOLE PER MOLE OF WATER OF HYDRATION IN SAID SALT, AT A TEMPERATURE BETWEEN ABOUT -30*C. AND A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANNTIALLY BELOW THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH SAID HYDRATE SALT DECOMPOSES, AND AT A PRESSURE SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF SAID REACTANTS IN A LIQUID STATE, AND SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF CARBON PRODUCT MIXTURE CONTAINING ALKYLATE PRODUCT OF SAID FEED HYDROCARBON AND SAID OLEFIN. 